Portable urinal

ABSTRACT

A portable urinal is provided with a container, a flexible hose which will maintain its position in either a contracted or expanded condition or a shape or curve to which it is placed for convenience in use wherein the flexible hose maintains its shape and degree of extension or contraction and including receptacles suitable for use by males and females in various positions including seated, standing and stooping.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Continuation-in-Part of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 13/373,851 filed Dec. 2, 2011, the entirety of which isincorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a portable urinal usable by both a maleand a female.

BACKGROUND

There has been a long felt need for a portable urinal which is usable byboth males and females in various locations. The need arises withrespect to people having frequency, urgency or merely not having accessto suitable toilet facilities for extended periods of time. Some of thepeople that may not have access to toilet facilities include pilots,people traveling, and incapacitated persons. Furthermore, a suitableportable urinal is often desired for convenience.

SUMMARY

The present invention provides methods and systems directed to aportable urinal.

In accordance with an embodiment, the disclosure includes a portableurinal comprising a container configured to be capable of holding urine.The container can have a base portion, a top portion disposed oppositethe base portion, a side wall disposed between the base portion and thetop portion, and an input configured to be capable of receiving ordisposing urine. The portable urinal can also comprise a sealing memberconfigured to be capable of releasably attaching to the input andthereby substantially sealing the container such that urine and gas willnot leak from the container. As well, the portable urinal can alsoinclude a flexible hose having a first end and a second end disposedopposite the first end. The first end of the flexible hose can beconfigured to be capable of releasably attaching to the input, and thesecond end of the flexible hose can be configured to be capable ofreceiving urine from a male or a female user in both a seated and astanding position.

In accordance with another embodiment, a portable urinal can comprise acontainer configured to be capable of holding urine. The container canhave a base portion, a top portion disposed opposite the base portion, aside wall disposed between the base portion and the top portion, and aninput configured to be capable of receiving or disposing urine. Theportable urinal can also comprise a sealing member configured to becapable of releasably attaching to the input and thereby substantiallysealing the container such that urine and gas will not leak from thecontainer. The portable urinal can also comprise a female receptaclehaving a first end configured to be capable of releasably attaching tothe input and a second end configured to conform to the shape of afemale vulva.

In accordance with another embodiment, the disclosure provides a methodof collecting urine in a portable urinal. The portable urinal can have acontainer configured to be capable of receiving urine through an inputand a sealing member configured to be capable of substantially sealingthe container such that urine and gas will not leak from the container.The method can comprise releasably attaching a first end of a flexiblehose to the input. The first end of the flexible hose can be disposedopposite a second end. The method can also include configuring thesecond end of the flexible hose to receive urine from a male or a femaleuser in both a seated and a standing position.

In accordance with another embodiment, the disclosure provides a methodof collecting urine in a portable urinal. The portable urinal can have acontainer configured to be capable of receiving urine through an inputand a sealing member configured to be capable of substantially sealingthe container such that urine and gas will not leak from the container.The method can comprise releasably attaching a female receptacle to theinput. The female receptacle can have a first end configured to becapable of releasably attaching to the input and a second end configuredto conform to the shape of a female vulva. The second end can be furtherconfigured to receive urine from a female user in both a seated and astanding position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description ofan example embodiment of the application, will be better understood whenread in conjunction with the appended drawings, in which there is shownin the drawings example embodiments for the purposes of illustration. Itshould be understood, however, that the application is not limited tothe precise arrangements and systems shown. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a portable urinal in accordance with anembodiment, the portable urinal being used by a female shown in dottedoutline form;

FIG. 2 is a side view of a portable urinal in accordance with anembodiment, the portable urinal being used by a male shown in dottedoutline form;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the female receptacle as shown in theembodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the male receptacle as shown in theembodiment of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5A is a side view of a portion of a flexible hose in the areaidentified in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5B is an enlarged cross sectional view of the area identified inFIG. 5A;

FIG. 6 is a side view of a portable urinal in accordance with anembodiment, the portable urinal being used by a male shown in dottedoutline form;

FIG. 7A is a side view of a portable urinal in accordance with anembodiment;

FIG. 7B is a partially exploded perspective view of the embodiment asshown in FIG. 7A;

FIG. 7C is a partially exploded perspective view of a first flexiblehose and male receptacle detached from a second flexible hose;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the male receptacle as shown in theembodiment of FIG. 6;

FIG. 9A is a perspective view of the female receptacle as shown in FIG.7B;

FIG. 9B is a top plan view of the female receptacle as shown in FIG. 9A;and

FIG. 10 is a flow-chart illustrating a method of collecting urine in aportable urinal in accordance with an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

Certain terminology is used in the following description for convenienceonly and is not limiting. The words “right”, “left”, “lower”, “upper”,“top”, or “bottom” designate directions in the drawings to whichreference is made. The words “proximally” and “distally” refer todirections toward and away from, respectively, the individual operatingthe system. The terminology includes the above-listed words, derivativesthereof and words of similar import.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like numerals indicate likeelements, there is shown in FIG. 1 a portable urinal 10 being utilizedby a female user 12. In a similar manner, FIG. 2 shows a portable urinal20 being utilized by a male user 22. Both portable urinals 10 and 20 arethe same in that they have a container 30 and a flexible corrugated hose40. The container 30 is provided with a low center of gravity when itcontains urine by reason of it being of relatively large cross sectionwith respect to its height or, in other words being shallow. Thepresently preferred dimensions of container 30 may be a height “H” asshown on FIG. 1 of approximately two inches, a length of approximatelyseven inches and a width of approximately three and three quarterinches. However, it is understood that other variations of height lengthand width may be utilized so long as orthogonal dimensions of the areaof the bottom is larger than the height. Further, other shapes may beutilized other than rectangular. However, in the presently preferredembodiment, the shape would be rectangular with dimensions as provided.

Container 30 is provided with an input 32 on its upper portion and ahandle 34 for ease in positioning and carrying container 30. Input 32 isprovided with a means for sealing input 36 of input 32 when hose 40 isnot connected to input 32. Container 30 is preferably made of an opaqueplastic material except for a vertically arranged elongated transparentarea 38 on a sidewall of container 30 for viewing the absence of or theamount of urine in container 30. Substantially transparent area 38 maybe provided with graduations or a scale 14 to measure the amount ofurine in the container.

Corrugated hose 40 is provided with a first end 42 and a second end 44.Corrugated hose 40 is flexible, extendable and contractible. Eachcorrugation of corrugated hose 40 is releasably lockable in a contractedcondition and releasably lockable in an extended condition. Thecorrugations are structured such that the legs of the corrugation aredesigned such that one leg is slightly longer than the other creating asnapping or locking effect locking the corrugation in either an expandedor contracted condition, and this locking feature is applicable for aradial section of the corrugated hose, thereby enabling the hose notonly to be extended or contracted and remain locked in that conditionfor as long as desired, such as the time duration of urination or thetime duration of storage of the portable urinal. Further, since a radialsection of each corrugation may be locked in either contracted orexpanded condition, the corrugated hose may be curved and retained inthat curved condition until moved or forcibly changed. In this manner,the corrugated hose may be lengthened to the desired length andpositioned with the desired angles for comfortable urination in eithersitting, standing or stooping positions or any other position and thehose will maintain that shape or position during the period ofurination. After urination, the hose may be contracted for storage inless space, and the corrugated hose will remain contracted untilextended. These features will be discussed hereinafter with respect toFIG. 5A.

As described above, since each corrugation of the corrugated hose isreleasably lockable in a contracted condition and/or an extendedcondition, the corrugated hose 40 may be easily adjusted to the desiredlength without having any coiling or flopping of unnecessary extra hoselength. Such coiling, loops or bows of excess hose could be a place ofundesirable accumulation of small amounts of urine which may then beunsightly to deal with when the hose is being removed for storage.

First end 42 of corrugated hose 40 is releasably attachable to input 32by threaded union or fastener 46. It is understood that other types offasteners may be utilized other than threaded fasteners, such as snap onfasteners. But in a presently preferred embodiment of the invention,fastener 46 would be threadable onto input 32. In other words, fastener46 releasably attaches the first end of corrugated hose 40 to input 32of container 30 when means for sealing 36 is not on input 32. The secondend 44 of corrugated hose 40 is attachable to a receptacle, such asfemale receptacle 50 in FIG. 1 and male receptacle 60 in FIG. 2, forreceiving urine from a user. Female receptacle 50 is shown in greaterdetail in FIG. 3 and male receptacle 60 is shown in greater detail inFIG. 4.

Referring now to FIG. 3 in connection with FIG. 1, there is shownenlarged view in perspective of a female receptacle 50 comprised of agenerally elliptical shaped vessel 52 with flattened ends 54 and 56. Thegenerally elliptically shaped vessel 52 has a crescent shaped curvedperiphery 58 which corresponds to the shape of a vulva. The generallyelliptically shaped vessel 52 is provided with an output opening 72which may be threadably connected by means of threads 74 to second end44 of flexible corrugated hose 40. Preferably, the periphery 58 ofelliptical vessel 52 is provided with an edge member 70 made of a softermaterial than the material from which the vessel is made and whichfurther conforms to the shape of the vulva when the vessel is heldagainst the vulva. This helps prevent leaks and provides comfort in use.Edge member 70 may be made of rubber or other suitable resilient plasticmaterials which provide a soft edge, softer than the material from whichvessel 52 is constructed, which conforms completely to the shape of thevulva when used by a female. Edge member 70 made of a soft, resilientmaterial such as rubber provides both a sealing function between theurinal receptacle and the vulva and provides added comfort to the user.

Referring now to FIG. 4 in connection with FIG. 2, there is shown a malereceptacle 60 which is comprised of a large offset vessel 62 forreceiving the glans penis of a male. The upper or outer edge 64 ofvessel 62 is provided with a resilient rim 66 which may be comprised ofrubber or other resilient material. This provides an outer or openingedge of vessel 62 which does not irritate or cause discomfort to a maleuser 22 using male receptacle 60. Vessel 62 connects to offset opening68 which is angled downwardly from enlarged vessel 62 insuring urineflow out of offset opening 68 and into second end 44 of corrugated hose40. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the offset opening 68 is connected tosecond end 44 of flexible corrugated hose 40. As illustrated in FIG. 2,male receptacle 60 may be provided with a closure 80 in the form of athreaded cap. Threaded cap 82 may be threadably mounted onto threads 82illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 4. However, it is understood that other meansof securing a closure or cap on the upper end of male receptacle 60 maybe provided within the scope of the present invention.

The angle 84 at the junction of offset output 68 and the vessel 62 forreceiving urine from the glans penis is important for insuring that theurine empties completely into flexible corrugated hose 40 and does notback flow onto the user.

Referring now to FIG. 5A, there is shown an enlarged elevation view ofthe portion of flexible corrugated hose 40 shown in the area defined as100 in FIG. 2. FIG. 5B is an enlarged cross sectional view of the areaof FIG. 5A. As may be seen in FIG. 5A portion identified at 90 of hoseflexible corrugated hose 40 illustrates the flexible corrugated hose 40in its contracted position where it is retained in its contractedposition or shortened condition. Area 111 of hose 40 illustratesflexible corrugated hose 40 in its extended position. In both cases, inthe case of the contracted corrugations of 90 and in the expanded orextended corrugations shown at 111, the hose is retained in thatcondition by the structure of the corrugated hose itself. This is due inpart to the structure of the flexible corrugated hose wherein the twolegs of a corrugation are of different length causing a snap typelocking condition when the hose is forced into its compressed positionor forced into its extended position. As illustrated best in FIG. 5B, itmay be seen that there is shown a corrugation 112 which is comprised ofa longer leg 114 and a shorter leg 116.

The entire 360 degrees of a corrugation does not need to be in the samecontracted or expanded condition. In other words, a radial section, suchas 180 degrees of a corrugation may be in its contracted position orcondition and a diametrically opposite or opposing radial section may bein its expanded condition. For example, looking at area 120 of hose 40,there is shown expanded corrugations 122 and contracted corrugations 124causing the flexible corrugated hose to be retained or locked in acondition of a turn wherein as illustrated in FIG. 5A, hose 40 is bentto the right in area 120 and is retained in that bent position.

In a similar manner, there is another curve or turn or bend in flexiblecorrugated hose 40 at area 131 wherein corrugations are expanded on theright hand side, or the radial section comprised of approximately 180degrees on the right hand side of FIG. 5A is expanded and contractedcorrugations at 134 on the left hand side to create a curve, bend orturn which is locked in or retained until forced otherwise. In otherwords, corrugated hose 40 is provided with a plurality of corrugationswhich are flexible, extendable and contractible for at least a radialsection portion of the corrugated hose such that the hose may bedeformed or curved and the lockable corrugations will retain the hose ina curved shape.

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7A-7B, an embodiment of the portable urinal 110can include a container 130 configured to be capable of holding urine.The container 130 can have a base portion 210, a top portion 212disposed opposite the base portion 210, a side wall 214 disposed betweenthe base portion 210 and the top portion 212, and an input 132configured to be capable of receiving or disposing urine. The container130 can also include a handle 134 extending from the top portion, suchthat the handle 134 is configured to support the weight of the container130 when it is full of urine. It should be appreciated that thecontainer 130 can be constructed of any type of plastic, rubber or othersuitable material.

The portable urinal 110 can also include a flexible hose 140 having afirst end 142 and a second end 144 disposed opposite the first end 142.The first end 142 of the flexible hose 140 can be configured to becapable of releasably attaching to the input 132, and the second end 144can be configured to be capable of receiving urine from a female or amale user 12 or 22 in both a seated and a standing position. It shouldbe appreciated that the second end 144 of the flexible hose 140 can beconfigured to receive urine from a male or a female in any position orlocation (e.g. sitting in a car, lying in a bed, stooping, etc.). Inthis manner, the container 130, flexible hose 140 and all of the othercomponents discussed in this disclosure can be configured to be portableand used in small confined spaces, such as a car.

It should also be appreciated that the flexible hose 140 can be any typeof flexible hose that is capable carrying urine from one location toanother. In one example, the flexible hose 140 can comprise a pluralityof corrugations configured to allow the hose to be lockable in anextended position, a shortened position, or any position therebetweenthe extended and shortened positions. In this manner, the hose 140 canbe configured to be releasably locked in various positions such that thecontainer 130 can be positioned at one location while the hose 140 canbe adjusted such that the second end 144 of the flexible hose 140 canengage the female or male user 12 or 22 at any other location. However,it should be appreciated that the flexible hose does not need to havecorrugations and instead can be any type of smooth-walled hose that isflexible. As well, it should be appreciated that the flexible hose 140can be constructed of plastic, rubber or any other type of flexiblematerial.

The portable urinal 110 can also include a sealing member 136 configuredto be capable of releasably attaching to the input 132 and therebysubstantially sealing the container 130 such that urine and gas will notleak from the container 130. “Substantially sealing,” in this contextmeans that the sealing member 136 can eliminate any visually noticeableurine droplets from escaping the container 130, as detectable by anaverage naked human eye. “Substantially sealing” also means that thesealing member 136 can eliminate any noticeable smell of urine fromescaping the container 130, the smell being detectable by an averagehuman nose. It should be appreciated that the sealing member 136 can beconstructed of plastic. rubber or any other type of material suitablefor substantially sealing a container.

As illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 8, the portable urinal 110 can alsoinclude a male receptacle 160 having a first end 162 configured to becapable of releasably attaching to the second end 144 of the flexiblehose 140 and a second end 164 disposed opposite the first end 162 of themale receptacle 160. It should be appreciated that the phrase“releasably attaching” as used in this disclosure can define any numberof different attaching means such as threadably attaching (e.g. threadfit), snapably attaching (e.g. snap fit), frictionally attaching (e.g.friction fit, interference fit, etc.), or any other suitable means ofreleasably attaching one piece to another.

In one example, the first end 162 of the male receptacle 160 can beconfigured to threadably attach to the second end 144 of the flexiblehose 140. In this manner, the first end 162 of the male receptacle 160can include first male threads 182 that are capable of being threadinglyattached to corresponding female threads disposed at the second end 144of the flexible hose 140. Likewise, the second end 164 of the malereceptacle 160 can include second male threads 184 that are capable ofbeing threadingly attached to the corresponding female threads disposedon a first end 152 of a female receptacle as illustrated in FIG. 9. Itshould be appreciated that in other examples the first end 162 and thesecond end 164 of the male receptacle 160 can have female threads thatcan be capable of being threadingly attached to corresponding malethreads. It should be appreciated that any of the various first ends,second ends, or inputs disclosed herein can be configured to have malethreads or female threads.

As illustrated in FIG. 8, the first end 162 of the male receptacle 160can define a first diameter 166 and the second end 164 of the malereceptacle 160 can define a second diameter 168. It should beappreciated that the second diameter 168 can be greater than the firstdiameter 166 in order to receive the male glans penis. Alternatively, itshould be appreciated that the first diameter 166 can be greater than orequal to the second diameter 168.

With continued reference to FIG. 8, the second end 164 of the malereceptacle 160 can be angularly offset (i.e., not planar) with respectto the first end 162. However, it should be appreciated that the angularoffset is optional and, as such, the second end 164 can be planar to thefirst end 162. As well, it should also be appreciated that the malereceptacle 160 can be constructed of plastic, rubber, or any suitablematerial.

As shown in FIGS. 7A-7C and 9A-9B, the portable urinal 110 can alsoinclude a female receptacle 150 having a first end 152 configured to becapable of releasably attaching to the second end 164 of the malereceptacle 160 and a second end 154 configured to conform to the shapeof a female vulva. In one example, the first end 152 of the femalereceptacle 150 can be configured to threadingly attach to the second end164 of the male receptacle 160. In this manner, the first end 152 of thefemale receptacle 150 can have first female threads 156 that threadinglyattach to the corresponding male threads disposed at the second end 164of the male receptacle 160. In another example, the first end 162 of themale receptacle 160 can have female threads that threadingly attach tothe corresponding male threads disposed at the second end 144 of theflexible hose 140. In yet another example, the first end 152 of thefemale receptacle 150 can be configured to be capable of releasablyattaching to the input 132 of the container 130. In this manner, thefirst end 152 of the female receptacle 150 can be configured toreleasably attach to either the input 132 of the container 130 or thesecond end 164 of the male receptacle 160.

As shown in FIGS. 9A-9B, the second end 154 of the female receptacle 150can also include an edge member 170. The edge member 170 can beconfigured such that when it is held against the female vulva, the edgemember 170 can substantially seal the vulva such that urine will notleak from the side of the female receptacle 150 when the female isurinating into the female receptacle 150. It should be appreciated thatthe edge member 170 can be a secondary material that is disposed alongthe second end 154 of the female receptacle 150. In this manner, thefemale receptacle 150 can be constructed of a first material and theedge member 170 can be constructed of a second material. In one example,the second material can be softer than the first material. For example,the first material can be plastic and the second material can be rubber.It should also be appreciated that the female receptacle 150 and theedge member 170 can be constructed of plastic, rubber, or any suitablematerial. The person having ordinary skill in the art will appreciatethat “urinating” can be referred to as voiding, discharging, excreting,or any other word suitable of describing the process of passing urinefrom the body.

While not illustrated, the portable urinal 110 can also include a plugthat is configured to be capable of releasably attaching to the femalereceptacle 150 adjacent the first end 152 to thereby substantially sealthe portable urinal 110 such that urine and gas will not leak. The plugcan include a peripheral lip that extends radially out from the sidewall of the plug. The lip can (i) can act as a stop to prevent the plugfrom being pushed too far down into the first end 152 of the femalereceptacle 150 and (ii) substantially seal the first end 152 of thefemale receptacle 150 such that urine and gas will not leak from theportable urinal 110. The plug can further include a handle that extendsfrom a top portion of the plug. The handle can be configured to becapable of being engaged by the user's finger to thereby grip the plugto thereby install or remove the plug from the first end 152 of thefemale receptacle 150.

Because the portable urinal 110 disclosed herein includes severalcomponents, the portable urinal 110 may also include a bag to store thecontainer 130 and the other components. It should be appreciated thatthe bag may allow the user to easily transport the portable urinal 110to any desired location. It should also be appreciated that because theportable urinal 110 can be used in any location, including publiclocations, the portable urinal 110 can also include a privacy shield,which can be placed over a portion of the female or male user 12 or 22while they are using the portable urinal 110. It should also beappreciated that the bag used for transportation of the portable urinal110 can be used as the privacy shield.

It should be appreciated that any component of the portable urinal 110can be configured to be capable of releasably attaching to any othercomponent. For example, the first end 142 of the flexible hose 140 canbe configured to be capable of releasably attaching to the second end164 of the male receptacle 160. As well, the sealing member 136 can beconfigured to be capable of releasably attaching to the second end 164of the male receptacle 160. These are just a few examples of thepossible connections that can be made between the components.

With specific reference to FIG. 7C, an embodiment of the portable urinal110 can include more than one flexible hose 140 and more than one malereceptacle 160. As such, the flexible hose 140 can be a first flexiblehose 140 and the male receptacle 160 can be a first male receptacle 160.In this manner, the portable urinal 110 can include a second flexiblehose 140 and a second male receptacle 160. Like the first flexible hose140, the second flexible hose 140 can have a first end 142 and a secondend 144 disposed opposite the first end 142. And like the first malereceptacle 160, the second male receptacle 160 can have a first end 162configured to be capable of releasably attaching to the second end 144of the first or second flexible hose 140 and a second end 164 disposedopposite the first end 162 of the second male receptacle 160. The firstend 142 of the second flexible hose 140 can be configured to be capableof releasably attaching to the second end 164 of the first malereceptacle 160. The second end 144 of the second flexible hose 140 canbe configured to be capable of receiving urine from a female or a maleuser 12 or 22 in both a seated and a standing position. In anembodiment, the second end 144 of the second flexible hose 140 can beconfigured to be capable of releasably attaching to the first end 162 ofthe second male receptacle 160.

It should be appreciated that any number of flexible hoses 140 and malereceptacles 160 can be added to the portable urinal 110. For example,the portable urinal 110 can include two, three, or four or more flexiblehoses 140. As well, the portable urinal 110 can also include two, three,or four or more male receptacles 160. Adding two or more flexible hoses140 and two or more male receptacles 160 can be used in any situationwhere more flexible hose 140 length between the container 130 and theuser would be beneficial. In one example, the user can be a bedfastpatient and the additional hose length can be used to accommodate theuser who needs extra flexible hose 140 length so that the user does notto have to get up and out of bed. In another example, the user may be ahunter in a tree stand and the additional hose length can allow the userto urinate while standing up. It should be appreciated that the portableurinal 110 with additional flexible hoses 140 and male receptacles 160can be configured to be used by a female or male user 12 or 22. As such,a first end 152 of the female receptacle 150 can be releasably attachedto the second end 164 of the male receptacle 160 located at the end ofthe hose length. As well, it should be appreciated that one or moresealing members 136 can be included in the portable urinal 110.

Now in reference to FIG. 10, a method of collecting urine in theportable urinal 110 is illustrated. The portable urinal 110 isconfigured to be capable of collecting urine from either a female ormale user 12 or 22. At step 200, the method includes releasablyattaching the first end 142 of the flexible hose 140 to the input 132.Then at step 202, the method includes configuring the second end 144 ofthe flexible hose 140 to receive urine from a female or a male user 12or 22 in both a seated and a standing position. The second end 144 ofthe flexible hose 140 can be configured to receive urine from a male ora female in any position or location (e.g. sitting in a car seat, lyingin a bed, etc.).

The method can also include releasably attaching the male receptacle 160and/or the female receptacle 150 to the second end 144 of the flexiblehose 140. In this manner, the second end 144 of the flexible hose 140can be configured to interchangeably receive gender specific receptaclesfor receiving urine from both female and male users 12 and 22 alike. Inaccordance, the method can also include the step of urinating into themale receptacle 160 by a male user 22, or urinating into the femalereceptacle 150 by a female user 12. If the female receptacle 150 isattached to the male receptacle 160, the method can include detachingthe female receptacle 150 from the second end 164 of the male receptacle160. When the female receptacle 150 is detached, the sealing member 136can be releasably attached to the second end 164 of the male receptacle160 to substantially seal the flexible hose 140 and container 130 suchthat urine and gas will not leak from the flexible hose 140 andcontainer 130. By releasably attaching the sealing member 136 to thesecond end 164 of the male receptacle 160 this may allow the user tostore the urine inside the portable urinal 110 until such time that theurine can be disposed. It should be appreciated that the method mayinclude releasably attaching the sealing member 136 to the input 132 ofthe container 130. As such, the method may include detaching the firstend 142 of the flexible hose 140 from the input 132 and releasablyattaching the sealing member 136 to the input 132 to substantially sealthe container 130 such that urine and gas will not leak from thecontainer 130.

In order to dispose the urine from the portable urinal 110, all of theupstream components can be detached from the container 130. As such, themethod can include detaching the sealing member 136 from the second end164 of the male receptacle 160 and detaching the male receptacle 160from the second end 144 of the flexible hose 140. After these steps havebeen performed the portable urinal 110 may only comprise the container130 and the flexible hose 140. As such, the method may further includedetaching the first end 142 of the flexible hose 140 from the input 132.Once the flexible hose 140 has been detached, the urine may be disposedfrom the container 130. It should be appreciated that the urine may bedisposed into a toilet, waste water line, or any disposal system capableof receiving urine.

Because of the undesirable odor and appearance of urine, the portableurinal 110 may be cleaned after the urine has been disposed. As such,the method may include cleaning the container 130, flexible hose 140,sealing member 136, and the male receptacle 160 and/or female receptacle150 with antiseptic solution or liquid dish soap. The cleaning processmay not only reduce risk and/or appearance of any remaining urineresidue from the portable urinal 110, but it may also reduce the risk oftransmitting disease from contaminated urine. It should also beappreciated that once the portable urinal 110 has been cleaned, themethod may also include drying the container 130, flexible hose 140,sealing member 136, and male receptacle 160 and/or female receptacle150.

As previously discussed, the portable urinal 110 may be configured toreceive additional flexible hoses 140 and male receptacles 160. Theflexible hose 140, as previously discussed, may be referred to as afirst flexible hose 140 and the male receptacle 160 may be referred toas a first male receptacle 160. As such, the method may includereleasably attaching a first end 142 of a second flexible hose 140 tothe second end 164 of the first male receptacle 160. The method may alsoinclude releasably attaching a second male receptacle 160 to the secondend 144 of the second flexible hose 140, the second male receptacle 160having a first end 162 configured to be capable of releasably attachingto the second end 144 of the first or second flexible hose 140. Thesecond male receptacle 160 may also have a second end 164 disposedopposite the first end 162 of the second male receptacle 160. The secondend 164 may be configured to receive urine from a male user 22 in both aseated and a standing position.

The method may also include collecting urine in the portable urinal 110with no flexible hose 140 included in the system. This configuration maybe used for children or adolescents or simply may be used in anysituation whereby the length of the flexible hose 140 is unnecessary. Inthis regard, the portable urinal 110 may include a container 130configured to be capable of receiving urine through an input 132 and asealing member 136 configured to be capable of substantially sealing thecontainer 130 such that urine and gas will not leak from the container130. The method may include releasably attaching the female receptacle150 to the input 132. Once the female receptacle 150 has been releasablyattached, the method may also include the steps of urinating into thefemale receptacle 150, detaching the female receptacle 150 from theinput 132, and releasably attaching the sealing member 136 to the input132 to substantially seal the container 130 such that urine and gas willnot leak from the container 130.

Similar to the discussion above, once urine has been received in theportable urinal 110; the method may include disposing the urine from theportable urinal 110. As such, the method may include detaching thesealing member 136 from the input 132 and disposing the urine from thecontainer 130. Once the urine has been disposed from the container 130,the portable urinal 110 can then be cleaned. In accordance, the methodmay include cleaning the container 130 and/or female receptacle 150 withantiseptic solution or liquid dish soap. It should also be appreciatedthat the method may include the optional step of drying the container130 and/or female receptacle 150.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms withoutdeparting from the spirit or essential attributes thereof and,accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claims, ratherthan to the foregoing specification as indicating the scope of theinvention.

What is claimed:
 1. A portable urinal, comprising: a reservoir containerfor holding urine, said reservoir container having a low center ofgravity when it contains urine and an input opening on an upper portionof said reservoir container and a handle on said reservoir container,said input of said reservoir container being provided with means forsealing said input; a corrugated hose having a first end and a secondend, said corrugated hose being flexible, extendable and contractible,each corrugation of said corrugated hose being releasably lockable in acontracted condition and an extended condition said first end of saidcorrugated hose being releasably attachable to said input of saidreservoir container when said means for sealing said input is not onsaid input, said second end of said corrugated hose being attachable toa receptacle for receiving urine from a human being; and said reservoircontainer being constructed of an opaque plastic except for a verticallyarranged elongated substantially transparent area on a sidewall of saidreservoir container for viewing the absence or amount of urine in thereservoir container.
 2. A portable urinal in accordance with claim 1,wherein said receptacle for receiving urine from a human being includesan enlarged vessel for receiving the glans penis with an offset openingfor urine flow, said offset opening being curved downward from saidvessel and being in communication with said second end of saidcorrugated hose.
 3. A portable urinal in accordance with claim 2,wherein said offset opening of said enlarged vessel for receiving theglans penis is provided with a rubber rim on its outer edge.
 4. Aportable urinal in accordance with claim 1, wherein said receptacle forreceiving urine from a human being includes a generally ellipticallyshaped vessel with flattened ends and a curved upper peripheryconforming to the shape of a vulva.
 5. A portable urinal in accordancewith claim 4, wherein said periphery of said vessel is provided with anedge member softer than the vessel and which further conforms to theshape of the vulva when the vessel is held against the vulva.
 6. Aportable urinal in accordance with claim 5, wherein said edge member isconstructed of rubber.
 7. A portable urinal in accordance with claim 5,wherein said edge member is constructed of a plastic which is softerthan a plastic out of which the remainder of the vessel is made.
 8. Aportable urinal in accordance with claim 1, wherein said reservoircontainer is provided with a rectangular base and the length and widthof said base is greater than the height of said reservoir container. 9.A portable urinal in accordance with claim 1, wherein said corrugatedhose is provided with a plurality of corrugations which are flexible,extendable and contractable for at least a radial section portion ofsaid corrugated hose such that said hose may be deformed or curved andsaid lockable corrugations will retain said hose in a curved shape. 10.A portable urinal, comprising: a container configured to be capable ofholding urine, the container having a base portion, a top portiondisposed opposite the base portion, a side wall disposed between thebase portion and the top portion, and an input configured to be capableof receiving or disposing urine; a sealing member configured to becapable of releasably attaching to the input and thereby substantiallysealing the container such that urine and gas will not leak from thecontainer; and a flexible hose having a first end and a second enddisposed opposite the first end, the first end configured to be capableof releasably attaching to the input, and the second end configured tobe capable of receiving urine from a male or a female user in both aseated and a standing position.
 11. The portable urinal of claim 10,further comprising a male receptacle having a first end configured to becapable of releasably attaching to the second end of the flexible hoseand a second end disposed opposite the first end of the male receptacle.12. The portable urinal of claim 11, wherein the first end of the malereceptacle defines a first diameter and the second end of the malereceptacle defines a second diameter, and wherein the second diameter isgreater than the first diameter.
 13. The portable urinal of claim 11,further comprising a female receptacle having a first end configured tobe capable of releasably attaching to the second end of the malereceptacle and a second end configured to conform to the shape of afemale vulva.
 14. The portable urinal of claim 13, wherein the secondend of the female receptacle further comprises an edge member, andwherein when the edge member is held against the vulva of the female theedge member substantially seals the vulva such that urine will not leakfrom the side of the female receptacle when the female is urinating intothe female receptacle.
 15. The portable urinal of claim 14, wherein thefemale receptacle is constructed of a first material and the edge memberis constructed of a second material, and wherein the second material issofter than the first material.
 16. The portable urinal of claim 15,wherein the female receptacle is constructed of plastic and the edgemember is constructed of rubber.
 17. The portable urinal of claim 13,wherein releasably attaching is threadably attaching.
 18. The portableurinal of claim 10, wherein the container further comprises a handleextending from the top portion.
 19. The portable urinal of claim 10,wherein the flexible hose comprises a plurality of corrugationsconfigured to allow the flexible hose to be lockable in an extendedposition, a shortened position, or any position therebetween theextended and shortened positions.
 20. The portable urinal of claim 11,wherein the first end of the flexible hose is configured to be capableof releasably attaching to the second end of the male receptacle. 21.The portable urinal of claim 11, wherein the sealing member isconfigured to be capable of releasably attaching to the second end ofthe male receptacle.
 22. The portable urinal of claim 13, wherein thefirst end of the female receptacle is configured to be capable ofreleasably attaching to the input of the container.
 23. The portableurinal of claim 10, wherein each of the container, sealing member, andflexible hose are constructed of plastic.
 24. The portable urinal ofclaim 11, wherein the flexible hose is a first flexible hose, theportable urinal further comprising a second flexible hose having a firstend and a second end disposed opposite the first end, the first endconfigured to be capable of releasably attaching to the second end ofthe first male receptacle, and the second end configured to be capableof receiving urine from a male or a female user in both a seated and astanding position.
 25. A portable urinal, comprising: a containerconfigured to be capable of holding urine, the container having a baseportion, a top portion disposed opposite the base portion, a side walldisposed between the base portion and the top portion, and an inputconfigured to be capable of receiving or disposing urine; a sealingmember configured to be capable of releasably attaching to the input andthereby substantially sealing the container such that urine and gas willnot leak from the container; and a female receptacle having a first endconfigured to be capable of releasably attaching to the input and asecond end configured to conform to the shape of a female vulva.
 26. Theportable urinal of claim 25, wherein the second end of the femalereceptacle further comprises an edge member, and wherein when the edgemember is held against the vulva of the female the edge membersubstantially seals the vulva such that urine will not leak from theside of the female receptacle when the female is urinating into thefemale receptacle.
 27. The portable urinal of claim 26, wherein thefemale receptacle is constructed of a first material and the edge memberis constructed of a second material, and wherein the second material issofter than the first material.
 28. The portable urinal of claim 27,wherein the female receptacle is constructed of plastic and the edgemember is constructed of rubber.
 29. The portable urinal of claim 25,wherein releasably attaching is threadably attaching.
 30. The portableurinal of claim 25, wherein the container further comprises a handleextending from the top portion.
 31. The portable urinal of claim 25,wherein each of the container, sealing member, and female receptacle areconstructed of plastic.
 32. The portable urinal of claim 25, furthercomprising a plug that is configured to be capable of releasablyattaching to the female receptacle thereby substantially sealing thecontainer such that urine and gas will not leak from the container. 33.A method of collecting urine in a portable urinal, the portable urinalhaving a container configured to be capable of receiving urine throughan input and a sealing member configured to be capable of substantiallysealing the container such that urine and gas will not leak from thecontainer, the method comprising the steps of: releasably attaching afirst end of a flexible hose to the input, the first end of the flexiblehose disposed opposite a second end; and configuring the second end ofthe flexible hose to receive urine from a male or a female user in botha seated and a standing position.
 34. The method of claim 33, furthercomprising the step of releasably attaching a male receptacle and/or afemale receptacle to the second end of the flexible hose, wherein themale receptacle has a first end configured to be capable of releasablyattaching to the second end of the flexible hose and a second enddisposed opposite the first end of the male receptacle, the second endconfigured to receive urine from a male user in both a seated and astanding position, and wherein the female receptacle has a first endconfigured to be capable of releasably attaching to the second end ofthe male receptacle and a second end configured to conform to the shapeof a female vulva.
 35. The method of claim 34, further comprising thesteps of: urinating into the male receptacle or the female receptacle;if the female receptacle is attached to the male receptacle, detachingthe female receptacle from the second end of the male receptacle; andreleasably attaching the sealing member to the second end of the malereceptacle to substantially seal the flexible hose and container suchthat urine and gas will not leak from the flexible hose and container.36. The method of claim 35, further comprising the steps of: detachingthe first end of the flexible hose from the input; and disposing theurine from the container.
 37. The method of claim 36, further comprisingthe steps of: detaching the sealing member from the second end of themale receptacle; detaching the male receptacle from the second end ofthe flexible hose; cleaning the container, flexible hose, sealingmember, and the male receptacle and/or female receptacle with antisepticsolution or liquid dish soap; and drying the container, flexible hose,sealing member, and male receptacle and/or female receptacle.
 38. Themethod of claim 34, further comprising the steps of: urinating into themale receptacle or the female receptacle; detaching the first end of theflexible hose from the input; and disposing the urine from thecontainer.
 39. The method of claim 38, further comprising the steps of:if the female receptacle is attached to the male receptacle, detachingthe female receptacle from the second end of the male receptacle;detaching the male receptacle from the second end of the flexible hose;cleaning the container, flexible hose, sealing member, and malereceptacle and/or female receptacle with antiseptic solution or liquiddish soap; and drying the container and flexible hose.
 40. The method ofclaim 33, further comprising the step of releasably attaching a malereceptacle to the second end of the flexible hose, the male receptaclehaving a first end configured to be capable of releasably attaching tothe second end of the flexible hose and a second end disposed oppositethe first end of the male receptacle, the second end configured toreceive urine from a male user in both a seated and a standing position.41. The method of claim 40, further comprising the step of releasablyattaching the sealing member to the second end of the flexible hose tosubstantially seal the container and the flexible hose such that urineand gas will not leak from the container and the flexible hose.
 42. Themethod of claim 40, wherein the flexible hose is a first flexible hoseand the male receptacle is a first male receptacle, the method furthercomprising the steps of: releasably attaching a first end of a secondflexible hose to the second end of the first male receptacle, the secondflexible hose having a second end disposed opposite the first end; andreleasably attaching a second male receptacle to the second end of thesecond flexible hose, the second male receptacle having a first endconfigured to be capable of releasably attaching to the second end ofthe first or second flexible hose and a second end disposed opposite thefirst end of the second male receptacle, the second end configured toreceive urine from a male user in both a seated and a standing position.43. The method of claim 33, further comprising the step of releasablyattaching a female receptacle to the second end of the flexible hose,the female receptacle having a first end configured to be capable ofreleasably attaching to the second end of the flexible hose and a secondend configured to conform to the shape of a female vulva, the second endfurther configured to receive urine from a female user in both a seatedand a standing position.
 44. The method of claim 33, further comprisingthe steps of: detaching the first end of the flexible hose from theinput; and releasably attaching the sealing member to the input tosubstantially seal the container such that urine and gas will not leakfrom the container.
 45. A method of collecting urine in a portableurinal, the portable urinal having a container configured to be capableof receiving urine through an input and a sealing member configured tobe capable of substantially sealing the container such that urine andgas will not leak from the container, the method comprising the stepsof: releasably attaching a female receptacle to the input, the femalereceptacle having a first end configured to be capable of releasablyattaching to the input and a second end configured to conform to theshape of a female vulva, the second end further configured to receiveurine from a female user in both a seated and a standing position. 46.The method of claim 45, further comprising the steps of: urinating intothe female receptacle; detaching the female receptacle from the input;and releasably attaching the sealing member to the input tosubstantially seal the container such that urine and gas will not leakfrom the container.
 47. The method of claim 46, further comprising thesteps of: detaching the sealing member from the input; disposing theurine from the container; cleaning the container and female receptaclewith antiseptic solution or liquid dish soap; and drying the containerand female receptacle.